Abstract
Aims:
The growing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) across Europe highlights the urgent need for robust, high-quality health data. Fragmented monitoring systems and inconsistent standards across Member States hinder coordinated and effective public health action. The European Union-funded Joint Action PreventNCD (JA PreventNCD) work package on monitoring addresses these challenges by promoting harmonised methodologies, exploring innovative technologies and identifying gaps. The work package aims to build capacity at all levels, support evidence-based policymaking and shift the focus towards prevention, contributing to a reduction of the NCD burden and health inequalities throughout Europe.
Methods:
The work package strengthens NCD monitoring across Europe through mapping, method harmonisation, knowledge exchange and pilot testing. Activities span clinical and population-level monitoring, healthcare access and costs, and integration of diverse data sources – surveys, registries, biomarkers and citizen-generated data. Innovative tools, including machine learning and risk modelling, support early detection and prevention. Structured into five tasks, the work package promotes cross-border comparability and effective data communication. Pilot actions on pooled surveys, economic modelling and digital tools feed into the development of a Monitoring Assessment Tool long-term interoperable monitoring system.
Conclusion:
The JA PreventNCD work on monitoring advances the clinical, individual and populational-level NCD monitoring systems across Europe by identifying gaps in interoperability, sharing protocols and facilitating cross-border learning. By strengthening NCD and risk factor monitoring, the evidence base for prevention policy development improves. Thereby support joint efforts to reduce burden of disease and health inequalities in line with the European Beating Cancer Plan and the Healthier together-initiative.
Keywords
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